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7 Ways To Hang Wreaths On Windows

by - Wednesday, November 15, 2017

No matter what type of window you have—top down or bottom up, single hung or double hung —there's a method here that's suitable for your wreath.


When you think of a house decorated for Christmas, what image comes to mind? For me, it's one with twinkling white lights, the house covered in a dusting of snow, with wreaths hanging in every window and a wreath on the front door. It begs the question - how to hang wreaths on exterior windows? Hanging Christmas wreaths is not an easy task and definitely one you want to get right the first time and do once.

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Our Colonial-style house is begging to be decorated in just this way, but when we tried to get the wreaths hung in the windows this past weekend, we were unsure of the best way to do it. How to hang Christmas wreaths on exterior windows or other Christmas window decorations is not something I knew how to do instinctively. You can hang a wreath on your front door using a wreath hanger but that method won't work on windows.

What kind of hook or adhesive to you use and will it last throughout the holiday season? Do Command strips work on glass windows? How do you hang wreaths without damaging your window or frame? Read on because I found the answers!

Note: affiliate links have been used in this post for shopping convenience. Updated for 2023.

How to Hang Wreaths on Windows


I hopped on my Instagram stories and asked how to hang wreaths on windows and there were lots of helpful ideas which I wanted to share here in in case you are having the same dilemma. After some trial and error, we found the best way to hang outdoor Christmas wreaths is subjective. It will depend on the type of window you have and the method you use to secure the wreath.

Before you select a method, consider these questions:

What size wreath do I need for my windows? 

Opt for a wreath with a diameter that is 1/2 to 2/3 the width of your window and no more than half the height of your windows. 20" wreaths or 24" wreaths tend to work on most windows. Also consider the weight of the wreath. Anything that is too heavy or has too many decorations on it will require more support to stay on your window.

    How do vinyl windows differ from wood windows?

    Unlike wood windows where you can poke or nail things right into the window frame, you'll want to use a damage-free method with vinyl windows. You don't want to ruin the integrity of your windows. 

    How to hang wreaths on windows with screens?

    Removing the window screens will make the task of hanging wreaths much easier. It will also make the wreaths more visible and attractive, without screens behind them. However, if you cannot remove your screens, consider screwing a screw hook into the exterior window frame at the middle top of your window. 

    Select a screw hook that matches the colour of your window trim to make it less visible. You can choose to leave the screw hook in year round, so you can use it year after year. Be sure that the hook is large and strong enough to hold the weight of your wreath. Once the hook is installed, use a wide ribbon looped through the wreath and hang the wreath from the hook. 

    q-hanger screw hook with safety clasp
    Screw hook with safety clasp


    To prevent your wreath from falling off of the hook, opt for a q-hanger screw hook with a safety clasp. Alternatively, you weave floral wire through the screen mesh and through the wreath to hold the wreath flat against the window. This will prevent the wreath from brushing against and potentially ripping the screen.

    Where to hang wreaths on windows?

    There is no set standard of where to hang a wreath on a window. It can be on the top half, along the middle, or on the bottom half of the window. It's whatever you prefer. However, you should hang all your wreaths at the same height on your windows and centred on the pane. 

    Also, don't hang them too high or too low so that they collide with the window frame - aim for the centre of the wreath to fall 1/3 of the way down from the top or 1/3 of the way up from the bottom. The best place to hang a wreath is where the back of the wreath will sit flat against the window.

    Where do you put the bow on your outdoor wreath?

    You can put your bow at the top middle or bottom middle of your wreath, whatever you prefer. Make sure all the bows are placed on the same spot on all your wreaths, and that all the bows are the same. For a nostalgic look, opt for traditional red bows or patterned plaid bows. A 12" long bow will suit most window wreaths.

    Ultimately, the best method to use to hang your wreaths depends on the type of windows you have, so read through for 7 different methods of hanging wreaths on window glass - and find out which one I recommend as the best way of how to hang Christmas wreaths on outside windows. 

    7 Ways To Hang Wreaths On Windows:


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    Method 1: Ribbon 

    (Best for Top Down or Double Hung Window)

    You can easily hang a wreath with ribbon if you have a double hung window which opens from the top down:
    • Take a 4'-5' length of waterproof ribbon (at least 2.5" wide looks great). Use a pretty ribbon as it will be visible from the outside and inside of your home.
    • Put one end of the piece of ribbon through the wreath, bring the ends together, and tie a knot near the end. 
    • Lower the top window sash and, still holding to the knot end, lower the wreath over the top of the window on the outside. 
    • Raise the window sash. The knot will prevent the wreath from falling to the ground. You might need to play with the placement of the knot in order to get the wreath to land at the desired height on the window.
    Example from Smart Girls DIY


    Method 2: Floral Wire 

    (Best for Bottom Up or Single Hung Window)

    If your window opens from the bottom up, you can use stiff (yet almost invisible) floral wire to hold your wreath. You will need an extra pair of hands to help with this method:
    • Take a 4' length of floral wire
    • Put one end of the floral wire through the middle of the wreath and bring the ends of the wire together
    • From inside, have someone lift open the bottom window a few inches. From outside the window, slide the two floral wire ends up and over the bottom window. Have the person inside grab the floral wire ends.
    • While still holding the wire ends in one hand, push down and close the bottom window with the other hand
    • Lengthen or shorten the wires so that the wreath sits at the right location on the outside
    • Secure the wire ends by wrapping them around the window lock, or insert a pushpin on the top of the bottom window and wrap the wires around the pin

    Method 3: Suction Cup With Hook

    Another wreath hanging option is to affix a large suction cup hook to the window. Vacuum suction cups or suction cup hooks specifically designed to hold wreaths (wreath hangers) will work the best. Make sure the hook you use is rated to use for the weight of your wreath. This size is suitable for most wreaths, but for very heavy or extra large wreaths, consider using this stronger suction cup hook.

    suction cup wreath hook

    You can also use this method to hang wreaths on glass doors or on other smooth surface indoors. For instance, use a suction cup hook to hang a wreath on a mirror like we did over our fireplace.


    Method 4: Magnetic Wreath Hangers

    This method is ideal for hanging a wreath on a single pane window or hanging a wreath on a metal door. If you don't want to put a nail into your door, or use a 3M hook, consider using Magnetic wreath hangers. 

    For use on a window, you will need a two-pack of magnetic wreath hangers. The magnetic hooks are meant to sit on either side of your glass window with the wreath hanging on the outside. But note - this method will not work on thick double-pane glass.


    Method 5: Fishing Line 

    If you have shutters on either side of the window, one possible solution is to tie clear fishing line onto one shutter, take the open end of the wire and loop it through the frame of the wreath, and secure that end to the shutter on the other side. Ensure that the fishing line is nice and taut and will bear the weight of the wreath. The clear fishing line won't be visible behind your wreath.

    Similar to Method 1 and 2, you can also use fishing line to make your wreath appear "floating" on your window. Feed fishing line through your wreath which sits on the outside of your window, then secure the ends of the line inside your home.

    Here's an example of how you can float a wreath on your door with fishing line secured to a hook on the back of the door:

    door wreath secured with clear fishing line attached to hook on back of door


    Method 6: Adjustable Tension Rod

    Another idea is to use an adjustable tension rod that is the same colour as your window trim. Place the rod in front of the window, either across the middle where the upper window sash meets the bottom sash, or at the very top of the window frame. As the rod is the same colour as your window trim, it will be less noticeable. Adjust the rod so that it sits securely against the side jambs. Secure the wreath to the rod with wire, ribbon or zip ties

    wreath hanging from ribbon held by tension rod in interior window

    Here's a great example using a tension rod and ribbon to hang wreaths on the inside of a window. This is a perfect solution for windows that don't open.

    Method 7: 3M Command Outdoor Large Wreath Hook 

    (Recommended Method)

    This is the method we ended up using and by far, it is the best way to hang wreaths on windows. But we made an early mistake and you can learn from my errors!

    Initially, we had tried these 3M Command Large Wreath Hooks but they kept falling down. Then I received a helpful tip to clean the window with rubbing alcohol before applying the hook and that seemed to do the trick. 

    We followed the instructions, giving the hook time to adhere before we attached the wreath. We've had a few days of below freezing temperatures and strong wind gusts and the outdoor Command hooks are still holding.


    how to hang a wreath on outside windows | colonial house with wreaths, wreaths on exterior windows


    There are lots of different 3M Command hooks and you want to make sure you get the right ones that:
    • are marked for OUTDOOR use. There are similar looking ones that are for use only indoors. Note that the outdoor hooks have clear adhesive backing, not white backing     
    • are CLEAR so that you can keep them up on your windows all year round if you want to
    • are the right size for the weight of your wreath. Use the LARGE size for wreaths up to 4 lb and the MEDIUM size for wreaths up to 2 lb
    2022 UPDATE: Our 3M Command Wreath Hooks have stayed up from 2017 to 2022 through all sorts of weather conditions! We did not remove the hooks from the windows after the holidays. Because they are clear, the hook is not that noticeable so we've just kept them up for the next year (and to be honest, we don't want to be up on tall ladders every year re-affixing these hooks!). Here's a front view of our house in summer... the hooks are barely visible from the street.

    How To Hang Wreaths On Windows?

    To hang wreaths on windows using 3M hooks, clean the surface with rubbing alcohol and select appropriate hooks for the weight and size of your wreath. Stick the hooks firmly on the window after removing the adhesive backing. Wait for an hour before hanging the wreath. Ensure it is centered and secure. This method offers a damage-free way to showcase your festive wreaths.




    Final Tip: How to Re-Hang Wreaths on Upstairs Windows

    After removing our wreaths after Christmas, the next year we discovered the easiest way to hang wreaths on the existing hooks on the second floor windows without having to get up on a ladder... just lift up the bottom sash, and from inside the house, reach your hand under the window to the outside and hang the wreath on the hook. Of course, this will only work if your hook is already on the window. If you do have to get up on a ladder, just ensure that your wreath is 'ready to go' and all branches have been fluffed, bows attached etc. before you climb up.

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    We have to finish the rest of our exterior Christmas decorations (who knows how to hang a garland over the door??) and string up Christmas lights but our house is looking festive already!

    Disclosure: This post prepared in partnership with Amazon.ca. I am a member of the Amazon.ca Associates Program and will share product ideas throughout the year. This post contains affiliate links.

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